The current season of Doctor Who has brought forth a number of changes to the hit sci-fi series. Most notably, it’s given us the first female Doctor with Jodie Whittaker’s portrayal of the Gallifreyan Time Lord as well as a new showrunner in Chris Chibnall. Unfortunately, the newest incarnation of the show might also be eliminating one of its most enduring traditions. According to The Mirror, the BBC has decided to scrap this year’s Christmas special.
Doctor Who has annually aired an episode on Christmas Day since the series was revived in 2005. Apparently, the decision to forego this year’s special is due to the writers running out of ideas for Yuletide-themed adventures. Chibnall’s predecessor, Steven Moffat, has previously indicated that the creative team essentially ran out of ideas to mix Doctor Who and Christmas.The last Christmas saw Peter Capaldi’s Doctor coming face to face with his earliest physical form, played by David Bradley. Beyond a late episode twist, the special featured no references to Christmas.
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However, it looks as though the show’s producers have other plans for Doctor Who this holiday season. The Mirror also reports that the network may be planning a New Year’s Day episode. The show previously aired a New Year’s special to close out David Tennant’s run as the character in 2010. At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Chibnall teased fans by promising an eleventh episode beyond the ten episode season. However, Chibnall avoided calling it a Christmas special.
How do you feel about the BBC’s decision to cancel this year’s Doctor Who Christmas Special? Let us know in the comment section below!
